MURCIA, mer'shi-e (Sp. moor'the-a), Spain, the capital of the ancient kingdom and modern province of same name, 30 miles north west of Cartagena, on the Segura, which divides the town into two unequal portions, connected by a handsome bridge. The city is surrounded by a brick wall and is entered by three principal gates. The streets are generally broad, straight and well paved. Among the public buildings the most important is the cathe dral, its principal facade a fine combination of Corinthian and composite architecture. It was begun in 1353. In the plaza stands the capa cious episcopal palace, built in 1752, one of the finest edifices of its class in Spain, and in close proximity to it the colleges of Saint Fulgentius and Saint Isidore, which form one range of buildings. The bishop takes his title from Car tagena, from which town the see was trans ferred. The other public edifices and institu
tions consist of the College of Saint Leander, which is an academy of music connected with the cathedral; the hospital of Saint John, with which is connected a hospital for convalescents; a house of refuge, a foundling hospital, the town-house, an institute for advanced educa tion, a school of design, an ecclesiastical semi nary, several nunneries, a bullring, two theatres, an old Moorish granary and a good botanical garden. There are manufactures of coarse cloths and Baize of different colors; of silk stuffs, especially taffeta and plush; linens, hats, gloves, saltpeter; also silk spinning-mills, dye works, potteries, tanneries, soap-works and about 30 flour-mills. Considerable commerce is carried on in silks and other manufactures, as well as in grain, etc. Pop. about 125,000.